“A Day in Egilsay”

Folk with an interest or connection to Egilsay are being invited to play a part in developing how the island’s heritage is shared more widely.

The Egilsay Community Association has received North Isles Landscape Partnership Scheme funding (NILPS) to host “A Day in Egilsay” community event, which will include heritage talks, discussions, and a walk on Saturday 10 September.

Valerie Dawson, NILPS Project Officer, said: “We have allocated funding to the Egilsay Community Association to assist in the development of heritage displays and interpretation at the community centre. To kick that off they are hosting an event to get people together and start to gather ideas, stories and content for a website and some displays.

“Egilsay has arguably the most important site within the story of Magnus, Orkney’s revered saint. It was on Egilsay that Magnus was martyred – killed on the orders of his cousin Hakon.

“It’s so important that people with a connection to Egilsay, or a keen interest in the island, help shape how its own, very unique story is told to others. We are delighted to support this event.”

In the morning a workshop from 10am-12.30pm will be held in the community centre for anyone with a connection or interest with Egilsay to take part in. The discussion will centre around how what Egilsay’s heritage is and how best to share it.

Guest speaker, Sarah Jane Gibbon will talk about St Magnus Kirk in the afternoon session, which runs from 12.30pm-4.30pm, while Lucy Gibbon will explain about the wealth of material available in the Orkney Library and Archive and RSPB warden, Vicky Anderson, will lead the walk around the island.

The ferry from Tingwall at 8.40am and 11.50am ties in with arriving for the morning and afternoon sessions. A free charter will transfer folk from Rousay to Egilsay and back.

This is a great chance for anyone with a connection to Egilsay or an interest in the island to come together and bounce ideas off one another, according to Egilsay Community Association secretary, Debbie Corrigan.

She added: “We are really looking forward to the event and hoping that we can gather a lot of interesting information about Egilsay itself and the people who have lived here in years gone by. Not only is it important to preserve an island’s heritage but it would be a great gift, for anyone, now and in the future to have permanent access to some of Egilsay’s history. So, we are keeping our fingers crossed for nice weather and a good turnout. I would also like to take this opportunity to give thanks to NILPS for all their help and support with this very important project.”

While the event is free, spaces are limited and people must book through Debbie Corrigan by calling 01857 821303 or email debbiecorrigan19@yahoo.com

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Background- The North Isles Landscape Partnership Scheme (NILPS) is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic Environment Scotland, Orkney Islands Council, Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE), NatureScot and the Orkney LEADER 2014-2020 programme and supports projects in Orkney’s North Isles.

Working with the communities in the North Isles the NILPS will deliver projects that will promote the heritage, landscape and culture of the area. The scheme will deliver a range of projects that includes traditional skills training, educational programmes, wildlife recording and enhancement of isles heritage centres amongst others.

The programme will invest £4.5 million in the North Isles and the project will run until 2024.